Before The Mayflower: The History of Black America

Lerone Bennett, Jr’s classic book remains the most comprehensive research and compilation documenting Americans of African descent though a diverse range of experiences and accomplishments over more than four centuries.

But please, get the 6th edition, the culmination of Bennett’s thirty years of research and writing. I believe some publisher has reprinted the first or second edition, which in my seldom humble opinion is disrespectful to the author. While serving more than thirty years as editor of Ebony magazine, Bennett continued to research new data, and expand his analysis and presentation. For the fifth edition, he took the book apart and completely rewrote it. Then he added even more to the 6th edition.

The American Revolution is a small slice of the entire book, but Before The Mayflower develops important context as to who fought, why, and what did they get for it.